Spring weeding

Spring is, hands down, my favorite time of year.  The main reason?

No stubborn weeds, yet.

Sure, the cool mornings and the longer evenings are magical.  Sleeping with windows thrown open to the sound of doves in the oak trees, lingering with neighbors in the street, and tending to newly planted tomato seedlings certainly revives the soul.

But, for a person who loves to garden, the fact that the weeds wait until late next month to torment me is bliss.

When the roses on the fence start to bloom, and the fruit on the vines start to take shape next month, that's when the weeds will roll up their sleeves and put up their dukes in earnest.

Weeding is one of my least favorite activities on the planet.  Why does it seem that no matter how many times I dig up a weed, it stubbornly returns before the blink of the eye?

But the time on my knees spent weeding is also some of my best times of reflection.  Bowed over in dirty jeans, fingernails shredded beyond repair, alone, I am forced to think about these damn unrelenting weeds, and it always brings me back to the soil of my heart.

Weeds of pride and self-absorption seem to put down thorny roots in every crack and crevice of my inner spaces.  It's appalling how they return, unbidden, with such alacrity.  

From experience, there's no way to gently pull up weeds.  It takes a humble posture and a determined Gardener to hack 'em out.  Heart work is hard work.

Our fitness, nutrition and body is one part of our garden where weeds can thrive side-by-side with the seedlings we plant.  God knows we water and fertilize it enough!  The weeds can sprout up as easily as the flowers, and it takes attention and determination to root them out and throw them in the garbage heap.

What weeds can you see putting down roots in your "garden"?
Which ones are hidden?
Which need to be rooted out, now, in order that you can better bear fruit?

You have a whole month to think about it:)  

"For he causes the sun to shine on the evil and the good, and sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous..." (Matthew 5)

Fried chicken (Part 1)

When was the last time you had fried chicken?

It's probably been a while.  We're not supposed to eat fried chicken any more, right?  Especially the fatty dark meat.  Oh, and only a crazy person with no regard for their health would eat the skin!

 Well, I love it all.  Here's one (of three) reasons why.

The last time I ate Kentucky Fried Chicken, I was in a remote refugee town on the border of South Africa and Mozambique.  Many of the impoverished citizens of this community can't afford the basic necessities of life (shoes, bread, medicine), but there is a KFC on the corner. Crazy!

I was sharing a big bucket of crispy chicken, plates of french fries and a coke with a teenager named Senzo and his wonderful adopted father (Hannes).

Hannes thinks Senzo is around 14.  We're not sure of his exact age, as Hannes found him when he was a very little boy, wandering around the village and eating from the trash.  He had been abandoned and was fending for himself to the point of starvation and extreme illness.

Hannes rescued our boy, gave him an age and a birthday (April 1st, always the joker) and continues to care for him today.  He loves him fiercely as his own.

Senzo (left) and Hannes (center) and Kenny (right) proudly wearing their new Texas gear!

Despite a mega-watt smile, Senzo has a timid personality in social settings, struggles in school and is slightly stunted from the lack of nutrition during his early years.  Oh, and he also will struggle with HIV his entire life.

And BOY does he like fried chicken!

Nothing made me happier than to share this special feast with him.  Not for one second did I think of the calories, the grease, or the trans fats as I licked my fingers and ordered another plate.  I spent no time thinking of when I was going to squeeze in a run to burn this all off.  I was in the presence of utter delight, made all the richer because sweet Senzo is now sharing a table with people who love him, and always will.

True nourishment comes in many forms, and so does empty hunger.  

Fried chicken is not our enemy and organic vegetables are not the cure for all our hungers.  Rather that we share a celebration with loved ones around a bucket of chicken - than share stress, worry and strain around a gourmet "healthy" meal.  

Which one leaves you nourished?

Keep Austin Weird, Baby!

Story 2 coming next!

Taste and see

"Taste and see that the LORD is good".  This comes from one of the Old Testament Psalms (34) in the Bible and I love the description.  Isn't it an interesting and revealing way to talk about God?  To taste and see.  


I like the connection between tasting and seeing.  I was reminded of this today as my attention was elsewhere and my 6-year-old happily rattled on about...well...something.  She paused to take a breath, looked at me expectantly, and I realized with a thud that I had not the slightest idea what she had been talking about for the last several minutes.  I had been "mmm-hmming" and nodding ferociously, but I wasn't present.  I wasn't tasting the moment, or the goodness of her.

I realized with a sinking feeling that I do this a lot.

We all can think of a rich, sweet discussion with a friend or loved one.  You can taste it, can't you?  The connection and the delight in one another actually nourishes the body.


At a recent AAA retreat, we spent a considerable time discussing what it means to really "...taste and see that it is good".  We talked about all aspects of being nourished, and how to incorporate more attentiveness, specifically, to how and why we eat.  We addressed bingeing, enjoying the family table, and various issues that we all experience if we are a woman living in this bewildering culture of sexy and plenty.
  
Like our view of God, women have a hard time seeing that their food, and their bodies are good.  We don't want to taste, because we don't want to see, because we don't think it is very good.  

Like our misguided belief that we need to work hard for God's approval, we also feel that we need to be perfect for society's begrudging acceptance.  Almost everyone in the room at the retreat (20 truly beautiful women, inside and out) hated something about their appearance.  Imagine!  We've been conditioned from an early age that food is our enemy.  That our body is our enemy.  It's better to stay numb and not taste, or think, about anything.


To really taste something means we give our full attention and participation, expecting delight and good.  Nourishment of the body and the soul comes when we give full attention to all manner of things: food, nature, art, music, exercise, people, and especially God... we can taste and expect delight and good.
  
Needing more nourishment?  
I am. 
I am reminded by the Psalms to taste (and see) the good in daily conversations, work, intimate relationships, my body, my food and drink, and especially my God.  They have all been given to taste and enjoy, because they are GOOD.

A cure for what ails you.

It’s no secret we believe that maturing as an athlete is the cure for what ails you. 

Need to sleep better? 

                              Move like an athlete. 

Need to lose a few lbs and get in solid, long-term shape?

                                                   Eat like an athlete. 

Want to add order and discipline to the warp-speed revolving door that is your life? 

                           Think like an athlete.

I won’t try to pretend that All About Athlete is for everybody. It’s not. But, if you are wondering if All About Athlete is for you this season, here are some things to consider:

AAA coaches and athletes are intentional and know why they train.  Our culture discourages self-awareness and is hyper-aware about things that are not essential.

AAA athletes have a certain level of focus and confidence that comes from repeated and consistent effort and practice.  The culture wants us bouncing around, worrying and consuming, wanting a quick fix.

AAA athletes grow physically capable (mature) over time, and develop a certain mastery over their body.  The culture keeps us vaguely dissatisfied with our physical state, allowing our body and feelings to master us!

AAA athletes have a coach whose job is to strengthen the whole athlete in a team context and identify blind spots.  The culture encourages self-help and doing the things we like to do, all the while avoiding our blind-spots, altogether!

If you are sitting on the fence about what/how to be more intentional in your health this season, let me urge you to consider a more athletic mind-set, whether with us, or with another athletic community.

Parlez-vous francais?

How long does it take to get in shape?

I usually say one year, but this depresses people for some reason and they walk away dejected.  Don't I know summer is only 10 weeks away?

Getting, and staying, in shape involves much more than journaling 2200 calories-a-day, pounding 45 minutes at 6.0 on the treadmill and shimmying back into size 6 jeans.  Being in shape calls us to examine how we move, what and why we eat, the way we relate, and all our motives for doing so.  

There is heart work to be done as well as hard work.

How can you get really mature and complete in anything in less than a year? It's silly to expect, and yet we are always surprised when we fail.....again.  


A year builds in failure.  It expects it.  And failure is the best teacher of all. 

Want to learn how to play piano? 

At the minimum, a year of committed practice is required; slogging through scales, learning to read music, fumbling along with right hand while keeping up with the left, trying to make it all come together.  It also helps to have a really good instructor!

Want to learn French? 

At the minimum, a year of focused practice is needed, preferably in France! Tough new vocabulary and grammar is required, most people over the age of 12 won't "pick up French" without immense attention and effort!

Why do we expect faster results with our fitness maturity? 


Our bodies and minds are more complex than pianos and more intricate than a foreign language. 


It takes a year of committed practice to fitness and nutrition to develop skill and growth. It can take many years to develop a level of fitness that is skilled and comes together. 

Healthy, mature fitness, or being in shape, takes time.  This rubs the culture the wrong way, I know.  Maybe you too?

We have had some new athletes jump into AAA workouts this month. After settling with fear and trembling into their new way of life (early mornings, lots of practice, different mindset, sore bodies), they already are beginning to look and move differently. 

Now, steady perseverance through the year is required, and it is the toughest part.


L'échec est le meilleur professeur!

Stronger Than Yesterday

Everyone needs a team and a coach. 

We are not meant to work out alone. 

We are FOR you.

Good workouts are simple, competitive, and make you better at something. 

You don't need much. 

A race up a hill, possibly backwards, is perfect.

Fit athletes are agile, strong, flexible and can endure. 

We're not ultimately interested in what you look like. 

What can you do?

As you get better at athletic things, your body will get "in shape". 

It might take four months or a full year of steady effort. 

But it will most certainly happen.

Nutrition is key. 

Your body needs real food and fellowship around a table. 

Drinking anything more than small amounts of alcohol messes with your fitness. 

So does sugar and stress 

So does eating too little.

Rest is the secret ingredient to quality fitness.

Good coaches are not there to make you comfortable. 

We don't mind if you whine a little, or even curse. 

Just do one more.

When you are failing and frustrated, good coaches will calmly ask you to do it again. 

This time faster, please. 

The best athletes will.

Mature athletes are intentional in their commitments. 

Their energy is focused, they look up and out, and are ready-to-share. 

They are compelling.

All About Athlete athletes are practiced at being brave. 

It takes courage to sprint all-out. 

Or do a hand-stand push-up. 
Or carry someone.

Or show up at all, if you are new.

Fear of failure ages the body and weakens the spirit. 

Perseverance and accomplishment strengthens the mind and fortifies the will. 

Friendships refresh the soul.

Exercise in nature whenever possible. 

Watch the sun rise while you run stairs. 

Cover the trails, hills, greenbelts, tracks, roads and parks with your footprints. 

Even when it's raining, cold, or August in Texas.

She will run and not grow weary. 

He will fall seven times and get up eight. 

They are athletes in every shape, size and history. 

All About Athlete:  stronger than yesterday.

Toe to Toe

All About Athlete is going toe-to-toe with the fitness industry and the culture at large, one athlete at a time. 


Our culture whispers and insinuates that we are deeply and hopelessly flawed and need help [stat!] in order to attain an acceptable appearance.   We are simply not up to par, people!  The industry wants to keep us as anxious, nervous, insecure and self absorbed consumers from cradle to grave.  Isn't that so attractive?   

All About Athlete believes that there is a way of life that calls us to consider our bodies, hearts, minds and our fitness and nutrition in a different light, entirely.  There is a way to think and to understand that settles us down instead of winding us up ever tighter.

It's our hope and goal that  we will quietly and winsomely teach and coach others in this way of life in order that they can square up to the culture with confidence, wisdom and deep discernment.  

While the industry scoffs at beauty born from communal struggle, restraint, peace and discipline (it's just not sexy enough), we think we are on the right track!